Makeshift dormitories

The Bridgewater Independent quotes BCNA member James Hayes-Bohanan's comments regarding off-campus student housing, as well as other comments about the recent bylaw change. BCNA will be discussing the implications of these changes at our January 23 meeting.

Bylaw Changes

The Brockton Enterprise ran two articles covering the recent changes to zoning bylaws that were unanimously approved by Bridgewater Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 9. The article that ran prior to the meeting provides the most detail; the article that ran after the meeting reports on BCNA member James Hayes-Bohanan's comment that the measure is probably necessary, but not sufficient to address problematic rental properties in town.

The new rules apply to the rental of single-family homes that are not occupied by their owners. Prior to the bylaw change, such properties could be rented to more than three, unrelated adults in some parts of town, but not others, while a special permit would be required in certain areas. Under the new bylaw, such uses are prohibited in some areas and permitted in others, but only with a special permit.

Issuance of a special permit by the Zoning Board of Appeals requires the notifcation of abutters and could result in restrictions being placed on the operation of a specific rental property. This change provides neighbors with the necessary leverage to insist on certain conditions at rental properties. By itself, though, the bylaw change accomplishes nothing; it is important for neighbors to exercise their rights under the new rules, to attend the appropriate hearings, and to ask the right questions.

How best to follow up on this welcome change will be one of the agenda items on BCNA's next meeting on January 23, 2010.

January Meeting

The BCNA will take a hiaitus for the holidays, regrouping in January to renew our focus on continuing to improve our community.

The first meeting of the new year will be Saturday morning, January 23, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Masonic Lodge on Central Square. Light refreshments and fine coffee will be served.

The agenda will include:

1) Implementation of the recent change to town bylaws, which require special permits for absentee landlords renting to more than three unrelated tenants.
2) Discussions with town police about how to make calls about quality-of-life issues, such as parking and noise.
3) Discussions with college representatives about community attendance at college athletic and cultural events.
4) Preparing for the college's annual Springfest.

Contact Nathan Schofield or James Hayes-Bohanan with any questions or concerns during the break. Please share this link with neighbors, and invite them to join us for the January meeting.

nathan.schofield era.com  or 
jhayesboh bridgew.edu

Saturday, November 21

The Bridgewater Center Neighborhood Association will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Better Bean on Central Square. We will discuss follow-up to the bylaws changes that were approved at Town Meeting, regarding special permits for rental properties. We will also discuss other issues that are on neighbors' minds, as time permits. This will be our last meeting of the calendar year -- we hope to see you there!

Fall Town Meeting November 9

The Bridgewater Center Neighborhood Association encourages neighbors to attend the Fall Town Meeting on Monday evening, November 9 at B-R High School.  We are particularly interested in Article 15 on the warrant, which will limit single-family rentals to three unrelated tenants. This provision will certainly not solve all of our problems, but it would give the town one more lever to exercise, particularly over absentee landlords.

Better yet, the debate on the article will give us a chance to ask questions about this and perhaps other measures to improve the quality of life in Bridgewater Center, and to raise concerns about enforcement and interpretation.